Stark Speaks UP for Kindness

Bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents, and a serious issue that affects and involves everyone around it. Research shows that as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their school years, and at least 10% are bullied on a regular basis. Children who are bullied experience real suffering in their social and emotional development, and in their school performance. The effects on everyone involved can have lifelong repercussions

The Stark Speaks UP for Kindness initiative is working to make kindness prevail – in schools and across our community – so that every child feels safe at school and is spared the negative effects of bullying. We’re for kindness. Our kind of people are kind people.

Our Goals

To increase positive peer relationships

To increase students’ social and emotional competence

To educate and empower students and adults to play a part in creating a safe and kind school culture

Testimonials

“I think it’s important for all schools public and private to be on the same page defining bullying and how we handle it…if it takes a community to raise a child, which it does, then I think it takes a community to truly handle this problem…”

— Stark County Principal

“Sometimes you would like to see the whole community and everybody in it aware of bullying…yet other times one school can make such a difference…”

— Stark County Parent

“When I was younger and I saw someone being bullied on the playground, I used to think, ‘Thank God that’s not me’. Now I understand I have a responsibility as a bystander – it’s not hard – something simple like ‘Hey that’s kind of mean’ usually works.”